Apparatus for distributing textile fibers and method



y 5, 1964 w. w. AULTMAN ETAL 3, ,973

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TEXTILE FIBERS AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

INVENTORS? J woobkowwnsou AULTMAN andC HARLES E. F'INQ ER JM,%ESL,M

ATTORNEYS y 5, 1964 w. w. AULTMAN ETAL 3,131,973

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TEXTILE FIBERS AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1961 on? O mG Om INVENTORSI ATTORNEY$ 524 Joukzou WOODROW W1 E ON ALILTMAN Qwp m mm mm 0 y 1954 w. w. AULTMAN ETAL 3,131,973

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TEXTILE FIBERS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 18, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS'. f v/oomzow W1 LSON ALJLTMAN andC HARLE-E; E. Fl NQE'R BY mwnmmgg ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofi "ice 3,13 1,9 73 Patented May 5., 1964 3,131,973 APPARATUS FOR DISTREUTENG TEXTILE FEERS AND i /[ETHGD Woodrow Wilson Anltnan and Charles E. Finger, Hickory, N.C., assignors to Hickory Spinners, inc, Hickory, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Dec. 18, 1951, Ser. No. 159,857 19 Claims. (Cl. 302-28) This invention relates to apparatus for distributing textile fibers, generally known as cotton distributing apparatus, and is particularly concerned with an improved method and means for controlling the flow and distribution of cotton from the opening room to a series of pickers in a picker room.

As is well known, cotton is taken from bales, frequently by means of a bale breaker, and is fed into opening and cleaning machinery in the opening room. During the opening process, the cotton is loosened into small tufts, and a large amount of dirt, sand and the like is removed from the cotton.

Generally, several opener machines are used, each of which receives cotton from a difierent bale, or one or more of which may receive a fiber other than cotton. Such fibers are delivered into corresponding weighing hoppers or buckets which are operated at predetermined intervals to empty the contents thereof onto a blending conveyor which, in turn, directs the cotton or fiber blend into suitable cleaning and mixing machinery located in the opening room. The cotton blend is then conveyed pneumatically to the picker room where it is delivered to a belt conveyor. Usually, the belt conveyor is in the form of a rake distributor which feeds a series of pickers, and the distribution of cotton to the feed hoppers of the individual pickers has been controlled to some extent heretofore by swinging or pivoted gates which were, in turn, controlled by the amount of cotton in the feed hoppers of the individual pickers.

The prior art types of cotton distributing systems have not been satisfactory for many reasons. In order that laps formed on the picker machines are of uniform density throughout the length of each web thus formed, it is necessary that there is very little variation in the level of the fibers in the feed hoppers of the picker machines throughout the operation thereof preceding each dofiing operation. While it might have been possible to maintain substantially constant the level of the cotton stock in one of a series of picker feed hoppers fed by the same conveyor system, the first hopper in the series would have to become filled and the corresponding gate closed, before a succeeding hopper would be filled or, at least, a substantially greater amount of cotton stock would fall into a first hopper than would pass over the same and fall into the next succeeding hopper and so on.

In attempting to avoid the latter circumstance, it has been the usual practice heretofore to overfeed the cotton from the opening room through the pneumatic system to the distributor and to momentarily stop the feeding of cotton stock to the pneumatic conveyor system whenever all the picker hoppers in the series became filled to the prescribed level. Upon the level of the cotton stock in any one or more of the picker feed hoppers subsequently dropping below the prescribed level, the overfeediug of cotton stock to the pneumatic conveyor system was resumed.

Since the gates used heretofore for opening and closing those openings provided in the housing or trough of the rake conveyor, for transferring the fibers to respective picker feed hoppers, have also been hingedly or pivotally mounted, they would intercept the cotton fibers during the closing thereof and would cause the fibers to roll upon themselves or ball up so that some of the fibers, and

usually a considerable portion of the fibers, were condensed variable amounts. When such fibers were finally discharged or transferred into the corresponding picker feed hoppers, they would remain in the form of condensed masses or balls of fibers and would thus be directed into the corresponding pickers in this form. This would result in the corresponding portions of the laps ultimately formed from such fibers being of varying density along the length and width thereof, this being true in spite of the fact that the pickers are equipped with an evener motion which tends to correct the rate of feed of the fibrous mass to the heaters and/ or the calender rolls of the picker machines. Obviously, such variations in the density of the lap are reflected throughout all subsequent processing of the fibers and even to the finished yarn or products made therefrom.

The prior art types of hinged or swinging gates on the trough or housing of the rake distributor would, even when opened, tend to hold and accumulate masses of cotton fibers which would, in itself, cause a condensing and balling up of the cotton fibers, notwithstanding the fact that considerable fibers would accumulate before actually being released from the swinging or hinged gates. Thus, it would sometimes happen that certain picker feed hoppers in the series would suddenly receive a 'level of cotton stock therein substantially exceeding the nominal, desired level while one or more of the other picker feed hoppers in the series would still have insufficient cotton stock therein, thus further accounting for the necessity of overfeeding the cotton stock from the opening room to the picker room. 'It is apparent that the greater the extent to which the fibers are overfe'd to the pneumatic conveyor system, the more frequent must be the intervals in which the supply of fibers to the pneumatic conveyor system is interrupted.

Further, when all the gates associated with the series of pickers were closed and the cotton stock was prevented from entering the pneumatic conveying system, an excessive amount of cotton stock would remain in transit in the pneumatic conveying system and cotton fibers would be carried around and tumbled by the rake conveyor and thus would develop into wads or condensed balls of fibers, which is highly objectionable for the reasons explained heretofore; Further, the fibers would be damaged considerably because, as the fibers in transit would run out, they would become attenuated or stringy" due to the very fact that the amount of fibers in the pneumatic system will have diminished. Such unintentional attenuation of the fibers breaks many of the fibers, shortens them, and forms condensed ropes therefrom, thus reducing the quality of the fibers ultimately delivered to and processed by the picker machines.

It follows, therefore, that it is highly desirable to maintain the flow of the cotton stock from the opener room to the picker room as nearly constant as possible by reducing the number of intervals within a given period of time during which it is necessary to stop and then start the feeding of the cotton stock from the opener room into the pneumatic conveying system and thus to the picker room, the latter being the primary object of the present invention.

In order to overcome the aforementioned defects and improve the efiiciency of the distributor system so that the overfeeding of the fibers may be minimized as compared to the prior art distributing systems, it is another object of this invention to provide a method of controlling the distribution of textile fibers which includes feeding fibers from a source through a pneumatic conveyor to a distributor, effecting the transfer of fibers from the distributor to each of a plurality of feed hoppers in accordance with the requirements of the individual hoppers, interrupting the feeding of fibers at the source upon the fiber requirements of all the hoppers in said series being satisfied, then resuming the transfer of fibers from the distributor to the feed hoppers in accordance with the requirements of the individual hoppers while maintaining interruption of the fibers at the source, and at a predetermined interval thereafter, resuming the feeding of fibers from the supply source to the pneumatic conveyor.

In its preferred embodiment, the present invention includes novel door means for efiecting the discharge of fibers from the distributor to each picker feed hopper, each door means being sensitively controlled by the requirements of the corresponding hopper and being so constructed and operated as to avoid damaging or balling the fibers either when closed or during discharge of the fibers from the distributor. A timer or time-delay mechanism is responsive to all the door means being closed at any instant to stop the supply of fibers to the pneumatic conveyor system for a predetermined interval, and of particular importance is the fact that each control means for the door means is operable independently of the timer so that fibers are still delivered to those hoppers requiring the same during each interval in which no fibers are being supplied to the pneumatic conveyor.

. Since the novel door means does not obstruct the movement of the fibers, other than serving its intended purpose, and the door means are sensitively responsive to variation in the level of the fibers in each respective hopper, it follows that V (l) The rate at which the fibers are supplied to the pneumatic conveyor system may be very nearly the same or only slightly above the rate at which the fibers are required by all the pickers in the series,

(2) The formation of wads, snarls, balls or other condensed fiber masses in the distributor or the feed hoppers is practically eliminated,

(3) 'The attenuation or stringiness of the, fibers in the pneumatic conveyor is reduced because of the increased duration of each interval during which fibers are continuously supplied to the pneumatic conveyor and the reduced duration of each interval during which the fiber supply means is stopped, and

, (4) The level of the stock in each feed hopper remains substantially the. same during each of these intervals to avoid irregular feeding of the fibers to the picker machines with a consequent uniformity in picker lap density which has not been attainable heretofore on comparable picker machines, to our knowledge. a

. It is another object of this invention to provide door means associated with each of a series of picker machines for effecting the discharge of cotton and/ or other fibers from a rake distributor, wherein the rake distributor includes a housing or trough having a substantially rectangular opening therein above each picker feed hopper, and a sliding door is carried by and adapted to .close each opening with fluid pressure operated means for opening and closing each door in response to the slightest movement of a feeler element positioned within and pressing against the fibers in the corresponding feed hopper.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which- FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of an opening room and a picker room showing the pneumatic conveyor or conduit between said rooms and illustrating some features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevation of a typical picker machine, taken substantially along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1, and showing the corresponding improved door means above the feed hopper for effecting the transfer of fibers from the distributor to the feed hopper in accordance with the requirements thereof;

7 FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration of suitable electrical and pneumatic circuits for controlling the operation 4, t of the distributor doors and the conveyor means in the opening room;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view looking upwardly and rearwardly in the general direction of the arrow designated at 4 in FIGURE 2, illustrating details of the improved door means and associated elements adjacent the corresponding feed hopper, and wherein the feed hopper is shown in phantom or broken lines;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation taken looking in the general direction of the arrow 5 in FIG- URE 1 and illustrating a preferred means for controlling the sensitivity of the fiber feeler means within the corresponding feed hopper. 7

Referring 'more specifically to the drawings, and to FIGURE 1 in particular, the numerals 10 and 11 generally designate an opening room and a picker room, respectively. Such rooms are usually spaced some considerable distance apart and contain the usual fiber opening machin ignated at 12 and which may be of a type'substantially as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,412,506 granted to Oren W. Greene et al. on December 10, 1946, for example.

The fiber blending system 12 generally includes a series of blender feeders 13-17 each of which is equipped with a fiber measuring or weighing bucket or container 20, which has a normally closed bottom 21. Upon all of the buckets 20 receiving certain amounts of fibers therein from the feeders 1317, and following a predetermined interval in the operation of the feeders, the bucket bottoms 21 are opened to empty the contents thereof onto a blender conveyor 22.

In this particular instance, the blender conveyor 22 serves as a controlled intermittently actuated sourceof cotton or fiber supply. By way of illustration, it will be observed in FIGURE 3 that an electricmotor 23, which drives conveyor 22, is controlled through a suitable electric control unit or panel 24 embodying a first timer mechanism which, in turn, controls the flow of current to the coil 27 of an electromagnetic relay 25. interposed in an electrical circuit to the motor 23. Motor 23 has a pair of conductors a, b, leading therefrom, one of which is connected to a lead conductor 0, and the other of which is connected to one side of a switch 26 of relay 25. The other side of switch 26 has a conductor d leading therefrom to a lead conductor e.

Conductors d, e are connected to a suitable source of electrical energy embodied in a plug 1. The control panel 24, whichis shown in the formof a block bearing the legend control panel, is of a well known type, including a suitable timer or time-delay-relay mechanism which is manually adjustablefor controlling the length, of the in tervals between successive dumping operations of the buckets 20 of the feeders 13-17 (eleven seconds, for example). Thus, control panel 24 has a pair of conductors g, h leading therefrom to the respective lead conductors c, e. Conductors g, h feed electrical energy into control panelt24, which, in turn, controls the flow of current to the electromagnetic coil 27 for operating the switch 26,-

by means of conductors. i, j, all of which is conventional. From the foregoing, it is apparent that the opener or blender conveyor 22 is operated intermittently to advance the cotton or other fibers deposited thereon from the buckets 20 of the blender feeders 1317 and to move the cotton from the first of the feeders 13 to the-next succeeding feeder 14, etc., whereupon the conveyor is stopped for a predetermined interval, all of which is determined by the setting of the control panel 24. It is further apparent that the'conveyor 22 ultimately forms a sandwich at the feeder 17, including a layer of fibers from each of the feeders 13-17. Thereupon, with the next advance-- ment of the conveyor 22, the sandwich of fibers is directed into a conventional beater mixing mechanism 30 which homogeneously blends all of the fibers in the sandwich thus received thereby and then advances the same through other suitable fiber opening and cleaning devices, there being three such devices shown schematically at 31, 32 and 33 in FIGURE 1.

A pneumatic conveyor in the form of a pipe or conduit 34 is connected to the discharge end of the final fiber opening and cleaning device 33 and extends from the opener room 19 into the picker room 11 where it is connected to a suitable suction device or condenser 35 having suitable suction means therein which produces a continuous, uninterrupted suction current in the pneumatic conveyor tube or pipe 34.

The condenser 35 may be of well known construction and generally includes a fan 35 for moving the air through the conduit or pipe 34 and a screen 37 for collecting the cotton and other fibers thereagainst. The air is drawn from the trunk line or pipe 34 through the surface of the screen and the cotton fibers are thus separated from the air before it is exhausted from the condenser. Suitable rolls or other means, not shown, then remove the cotton from the surface of the screen and drop it through a discharge portion 33 at the bottom of the housing of the condenser 35. The condenser may be of a type such as is disclosed in American Cotton Handbook, first edition, pages 180 and 181, published by American Cotton Handbook Company, 363 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, and copyrighted in 1941. Accordingly, a further detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The open lower portion 33 of condenser 35 is disposed closely above the upper run of a feed hopper distributor conveyor of a distributor broadly designated at 45. In this instance, conveyor 45 is shown as, and is preferably in the form of, an endless belt type of rake conveyor, provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transverse rows of rake pins 47 thereon (FlG- URE 4).

Although there are various types of so-cflled rake conveyors, the particular type illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4 of the annexed drawings, is of a type which includes separate substantimly U-shaped troughs 5t 51 through which the respective upper and lower runs of the endless conveyor belt 45 are adapted to pass. The upper run generally rests upon and slides along the lower wall of the upper U-shaped trough 5t) and the free ends of the pins 47 usually slide upon or move in close proximity to the bottom wall of the lower trough 51.

As shown in FIGURE 1, opposed ends of troughs 59, 51 are secured to common hollow end pieces 52, 53 having respective rollers 54, journaled therein for supporting endless conveyor 45 thereon. As is usual, one of the rollers 54 or 55 is continuously driven at a relatively slow speed at all times, as by means of an electric motor '56. The bottom trough 51 is spaced closely above the feed hoppers of a series of picker machines in the picker room ll. In this instanw, there are four picker machines shown in FIGURE 1 broadly designated at A-D.

The picker machine B shown in FIGURE 2 is representative of any one of the picker machines shown in FIGURE 1 and is shown in the form of a single process picker of conventional construction. Each picker machine includes a picker feed hopper 61, a back breaker beater section 62, a front breaker beater section 53, a syuchronizer section 64, an evener section 65, a finisher section 66, a calender section 6! and a lap roll forming section '63. As is known, the evener section 65 is controlled by a hand-wheel 65a which is adjusted to accommodate undesirable variations in lap thickness or density usually caused by non-uniform feeding of the fibers at the feed hopper 61.

All the various moving parts of each picker machine are driven in the usual manner in proper timed relationship, such moving parts including a bottom lattice conveyor 75 and a lift pin conveyor 76 positioned within each picker feed hopper 61. The picker machine of FIGURE 2 is equipped with the usual knock-off or Starting lever 77 which may be operated manually for starting and stopping the picker machine at will and which also operates automatically to stop the picker machine upon a lap roll being completed at the lap roll section 68. The knock-oil mechanism of which lever 77 is a part may be of the type shown in US. Patent No. 1,037,327, granted to B. M. Rogers on September 3, 1912.

In this instance, when lever 77 is moved to the knockoff position, it moves a switch operating element 30 into engagement with a switch arm 83 (FIGURES 2 and 3) of a double-throw switch 82, which is a part of an electrical circuit, peculiar to the present invention, for controlling the operation of a door which effects the discharge of fibers from the rake distributor id to the corresponding picker machine, as will be presently described.

In order to eificiently maintain the level of the cotton stock in each of the picker feed hoppers 61 at a level within prescribed limits, and with an efiiciency which has heretofore been unattainable to our knowledge, each of the picker feed hoppers 611 has therein a pendulous feeler element 85, which may be in the form of a rake or fork, but is preferably in the form of a relatively thin, light-wei ht, imperforate plate. Plate 85 is spaced substantially rearwardly from the lift conveyor '76 and extends between opposed side walls of the corresponding picker feed hopper 61, but is free to move between said opposed side walls.

The upper end of feeler plate 85 is lived to a shaft S6 suitably joumaled on or in the upper portion of opposed side walls of the corresponding picker feed hopper 61. One end of pivot shaft 86 extends beyond the correspondin side wall and has a gear sector 87 fixed thereon (FIG- URE 5) and meshing with a pinion or gear 99. Pinion 99 is journaled on a shaft 92 on the corresponding side wall of hopper 61 and has a radially extending arm 93 suitably secured thereto. A weight member 94 is mounted for longitudinal adjustment on arm 93, as by means of a set screw $5.

Weight member 94 tends to swing feeler plate 85' forwardly toward lift conveyor '76, and above the level of bottom conveyor 75, to an extent determined by the center of gravity of the weight member 94 with respect to the shaft 92. Thus, the greater the angular relationship between feeler plate 85 and arm 93, the greater the amount of forward movement which may be imparted to plate 85 under any conditions; that is, regardless of whether or not the corresponding hopper 61 contains cotton fibers. It is apparent that this angularity may be changed at the will of the operator by simply withdrawing pinion tl from shaft 92, rotating the same and reinstalling the same on shaft 92 at a different angle relative to gear sector 87 and feeler plate 85. It is further apparent that the amount of forward force, exerted against the cotton in hopper 61 by plate 85, may be varied by adjusting weight member 94 along shaft Q3, thus providing a means for at least partially controlling the sensitivity of feeler plate 85 to Variation in the weight, amount or level of the fibers thereagainst.

The end of pivot shaft 86 remote from sector 87 also has a crank 10%) fixed thereon whose position about shaft $6 may also be adjusted by means of a set screw till (FIGURE 4). The free end portion of crank 1% is adapted to engage the arm 192 of a sensitive doublethrow switch 193 whose housing is suitably secured to the corresponding side wall of hopper 61. The arm 162 of switch 193 is normally biased toward crank 1% so that switch 163 maintains contact between a pair of conductors 104, 165 (FIGURE 3) when sufficient fibers are within hopper 61.

However, if the supply of cotton or other fibers in the picker feed hopper 61 is reduced so the weight thereof does not sufliciently overcome the pressure produced by weight 94 to cause crank 1% to maintm'n the closed contact between conductors 1G4, 105, switch arm 102 then 7 maintains contact between the conductor 105 and a conductor 106.

The feeler plate 85 controls the position of a corresponding improved sliding door or gate 123 carried by the trough 51 and positioned above the corresponding picker feed hopper 61. When in the position of FIG- URE 3, switch arm 1132 causes the door 123 thereabove to occupy closed position. When switch arm 102 closes the circuit between wires 165, 106, door 123 normally occupies open position.

Since the picker room 11 includes four picker machines AD, it follows that the bottom trough 51 of distributor 46 is provided with a separate discharge opening 120 and closablesliding gate or door 123 for each picker machine A-D. Accordingly, only one of the sliding gates will be described in detail and like reference characters shall apply to the other gates where applicable.

Referring again to FIGURE 5, it will be observed that opening 120 is formed in the bottom wall of the trough 51. Opening 120 is preferably rectangular and extends throughout the width of said bottom wall, and is of a length preferably somewhat less than the width of the corresponding picker feed hopper 61. Suitable guide plates 121 are secured to and depend from opposed side walls of trough 51 and have corresponding slides 122 fixed thereto and projecting inwardly therefrom in slightly spaced relationship below the bottom wall of trough 51 to accommodate the corresponding rectangular sliding door or gate It is apparent that the slides 122 slidably support sliding gate 123 and maintain the same in close proximity to the bottom wall of trough 51. Door 123 is shown in fully opened position in solid lines in FIGURE 4 and is shown in substantially closed position in solid lines in FIGURE 3 and in-broken lines in FIGURE 4, it being particularly important to note that the leading or free edge of sliding door 123 terminates short of the corresponding edge of the opening 120 when door 123 occupies closed position. This prevents any fibers from being clamped between the proximal edges of the openings 120 and respective sliding doors 123.

Each sliding door 123 is moved between opened and closed positions with respect to the corresponding opening 120 in the trough 51, by fluid pressure means under control of the respective feeler plate 85. Each fluid pressure means is embodied in a pneumatic double-acting cylinder 125 whose base end 126 is pivotally connected to the bottom wall of trough 51, as by a flanged support 127.

The head end 130 of cylinder 125 is slidably penetrated by a piston rod or plunger 131 having a piston 132 there-' on longitudinally movable within cylinder 125. The free end of piston rod 131 is suitably pivotally connected to the lower surface of the corresponding sliding door 123, as by means of a flanged support 133. The head and base ends 139, 126 of'each cylinder 125 have corres onding ends of respective conduits 136, 137 connected thereto and leading to opposed sides of an electromagnetically operated or four-way solenoid valve. generally designated at 149.

Valve 14% (FIGURES 3 and 4) is suitably secured to one of the side walls of bottom trough 51 of distributor 46. Valve 14%, and thus the direction of flow of fluid through cylinder 125, is controlled by switch 103, which as heretofore stated, responds to variation in the position of feeler plate 85.

Valve 140 includes a movable core 141 which may be moved between two positions by solenoid coils 142, 143. Solenoid valves are generally well known and, accordingly, a detailed description and illustration is deemed unnecessary. In this instance, coil 142, when energized, causes the core 141 to occupy the position of FIGURE 3 in which fluid pressure flows from a source S through a conduit 145, through valve 141 and to the base end 126 of cylinder 125, to thus move the piston rod 131 and the sliding door 123 to closed or substantially closed 3 position. At the same time, fluid pressure is exhausted from the head end of cylinder 125 through conduit 137, through valve and is discharged to the atmosphere through an outlet 146.

Of course, when solenoid coil 143 is energized, during which coil.142 is de-energized, core 141 then moves to a position which would be at right angles to that shown in FIGURE 3, for example, and fluid pressure would then flow from conduit through valve'14t) and conduit 137 to the head end 136 of cylinder 125, thus causing plunger 131 and door 123 to move to the retracted or open position. At this time, fluid pressure would then be exhausted from the base end 126 ofcylinder 125 through conduit 136, valve 144 and discharge port 146. Pipe 145 may have a suitable shut-off valve V and a pressure a regulator valve V therein. Thus, the speed of the clos ing and opening actions of each door 123 may be controlled by adjustment of each regulator valve V The circuit for controlling the flow of current to the coils142, 143 of valve 149 will now be described. In this connection, it should be understood that a similar or identical circuit would be provided for each of the pickers A-D and the corresponding sliding doors 123, and all of the circuits include respective relays 150 which are interposed in a common circuit for controlling the single motor 23 which drives the conveyor 22 in the opening room 11 as will be later described. The motor 23 represents any suitable electrically operable means for effecting operation of the fiber supply conveyor 22. r The circuit associated with each of the solenoid valves 14% includes the double-throw switches 82, 103 of the corresponding picker machine. Switch 81 may be in the form of a toggle switch and includes two switch 'bars 151, 152, the former of which has one end of conductor 106 and a corresponding end of 'a conductor 153 connected thereto. Conductor 153 leads to one side of the coil 143 of valve 149. The other side of coil 143 has a conductor k leading therefrom to a conductor 155, one end of which is connected to one side of coil 142 and the other end of which is connected to one side of a doublepole master switch 156.

The other side of master switch 156 has a pair of lead conductors 158, 159 leading therefrom to a plug 160 which represents a suitable source of electrical energy. The side of switch 156 opposite from conductor 158 has a conductor 162 leading therefrom to one side of switch bar 152. The other side of switch bar 152 has a conductor 163 leading therefrom to one side of the coil of the corresponding relay 150. The end of conductors 104, 105 opposite from switch .103 are connected to medial portions of conductors 163 and 162. The side of the latter relay 150 opposite from wire 163 has a conductor 164 leading therefrom to the side of the coil 142 of valve 140 opposite from conductor 155.

Referring to the right-hand lower portion of FIGURE 3, it will be observed that the end of lead conductor e opposite from the source or plug 1 is connected to one end of the coil 165 of a timer or time-delay-relay 170.

Switch bars 166 of the respective relays 150 are interposed in series in the conductor e. It is apparent, therefore, that as long as any one or more of the coils of relays 150 remain de-energized and the corresponding switch or switches 166 are opened, current cannot flow to the coil 165 of relay 170. The end of lead conductor 0 opposite from plug 1 is connected to the other end of coil 165.

Time-delay-relay 170 functions to immediately. close the circuit between a pair of conductors m and n, through the medium of a switch p each time the coil 165 of relay 170 is energized. The coil 165 of relay 170 remains energized so long as the switches 166 associated with all of the picker feed hoppers 61 and doors 123 are closed. It should be noted that all of the switches 166 are closed only when the corresponding doors 123 occupy substantially closed position.

Now, when any one or more of the switches 166 are opened, due to the level of the cotton stock in the corresponding hoppers 61 dropping below the predetermined desired level, and during which the corresponding sliding gates or doors 123 are opened, the timer 171 then maintains the switch 2 in closed position for a predetermined interval and then permits the switch p to return to opened position under the irniuence of a spring q. The interval during which the switch p remains closed following de-energization of the coil of relay 165 may be determined by an adjustment screw r and may be termed as a recession period.

Although the timer 179 is shown in the form of a block bearing the legend timer, it is to be understood that the timer 1713 is representative of one of many difierent and well-known types of time-delay-relay mechanisms which will function in the manner last described. A more detailed illustration of a time-delay-relay mechanism which may'serve the purpose of the timer 170 of FIGURE 3 is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,751,621, granted to George W. Mitchell on June 26, 1956, the time-delayrelay mechanism being indicated at 247 in FIGURE 18 of said last-named patent. Relays of this type may also be arranged so as to start the recession period immediately upon energizing coil 165 in FIGURE 3 of the present drawings, as may be desirable in some installations of the present apparatus.

Whenever the switch p of relay 170 occupies closed position, current flows through the coil 27 of relay 25 regardless of whether or not the flow of current through the coil 27 is called for by the control unit or control panel 24 in the right-hand portion of FIGURE 3. To this end, it will be noted that the conductor in extends from one side of switch p to .one end of the coil 27 of relay 25, and the other side of the latter coil 27 has a conductor s leading therefrom. The end of conductor n opposite from switch p is connected to the other lead conductor e.

Thus, whenever switch p of timer 170 is closed, the coil 27 of relay 25 is energized and opens switch 26 to break the circuit to electric motor 23 so the conveyor 22 in the opening room remains at a standstill until switch 26 of relay is permitted to return to closed position due to one or more of the switches 166 of relay 15% moving to the opened position and due to the timer 179 having subsequently released the switch p. Of course, control panel 24 takes over control of conveyor 22 as soon as switch 26 returns to a closed position.

Method of Operation In this instance, it shall be assumed that the blending apparatus 12; including conveyor 22, and the opening and cleaning machines 31, 32, 33 in the opening room 10 of FIGURE 1 are operating so that cotton stock or other fibers are being conveyed to and through pipe 34, through condenser 35 and through the distributor 46. It is to be assumed further that all of the picker machines A-D are operating properly and that the conveyors 75, 76 in the corresponding picker feed hoppers 61 are feeding cotton to the back breaker sections 62. It shall also be assumed that an adequate supply of cotton stock is present in the feed hoppers 61 of pickers A, D so that the corresponding doors 123 occupy substantially closed position while the level of the cotton stock within the hoppers 61 of the picker machines B and C is below the minimum level for which the corresponding weights 94 (FIGURE 5) are adjusted.

The cotton stock from the condenser is thus deposited upon the upper run of rake conveyor and is carried into the bottom trough 51 by the rake pins 47, which pins also move the cotton stock along the upper surface of the bottom wall of trough 51 and along the upper surface of any of the doors 123 then in closed position. On the other hand, the stock being propelled along the trough 51 by the bottom run of rake conveyor 45 readily falls through any of the rectangular openings when the corresponding doors 123 are opened.

When the hopper 61 associated with picker B, for example, has been filled to the desired extent so as to cause the corresponding switch arm 102 to occupy the position shown in FIGURE 3, it is apparent that current then flows from lead conductor 158 through switch 156, conductors 162, 1135, switch arm 102, conductors 1G4, 163, the coil of the corresponding relay 150, through conductor 164, through the coil 142 of valve 140, through conductor 155 and switch 156 to lead conductor 159. At this instant, core 141 of valve 141 occupies the position shown in FIGURE 3 and switch 166 associated with the corresponding picker machine B then occupies closed position due to energization of the corresponding coils 142, 151).

As heretofore stated, fluid pressure then flows to the base end 126 of cylinder 125, causing plunger 131 to move to the extended position. However, as the plunger moves to the latter extended position, the door 123 moves therewith to a partially closed position so that a relatively small space, of one or two inches, for example, remains between the free edge of the corresponding door 123 and the adjacent edge of the opening 120. This prevents any of the stock which may have partially projected through the opening 121? at the time the door 123 was closed from being clamped or gripped between the proximal edges of the opening 129 and the door 123 so that the rake pins 47 may readily carry the fibers then above the corresponding door 123 along the trough 51 to deposit them through the next opening 126 which may be opened at that time. This would be the opening 120 associated with picker machine C in this instance.

it is apparent, therefore, that each door 123 may be opened and closed without balling or damaging the fibers being conveyed by the rake conveyor 45 through the trough 51, thus overcoming one of the most important defects in prior art types of cotton distributing systems.

It is apparent that as soon as the weight of the cotton stock in the hopper 61 of picker machine B (or any other picker machine in the series) becomes insufiicient te Hold the corresponding switch arm 1112 in the position of FI URE 3, such switch arm 162 then establishes contact between conductors 1135, '105 and, if the corresponding picker machine B is then operating properly, current then flows from lead conductor 158 through switch 156, conductors 162, 1135, switch arm 162, conductor 1%, the then closed switch bar 151, conductor 153, solenoid coil 143, conductors k, 155 and through switch 156 to lead conductor 159, to thus complete the circuit to the coil 143 'while deenergizing the coils 142, 150 of the corresponding picker machine B. Thus, the core 141 of the corresponding valve 140 is rotated or moved so as to cause fiuid pressure to enter the head end 131 of cylinder 125 as it is exhausted from the base end 126 and, thus cause the piston rod or plunger 131 to move the corresponding door 123 to opened position.

Now, if it so happens that the corresponding picker machine B is not operating at the time that switch bar 102 is moved to the latter position (establishing Contact between conductors 105, 196), or if the contact bar 102 occupies the latter position and the shipper or knock-cit lever 77 is moved so as to stop the correspondin picker machine B, it is apparent that the switch bar 151 would then occupy open position and switch bar 152 would occupy the closed position, thus preventing energization of the coil 143 of the corresponding valve 149 while maintaining energhzation of the coils 142, 1513. This insures that the corresponding sliding gate 123 will remain in the closed position any time the corresponding picker machine is not operating, for the purpose of dofing the lap roll, for example. Regardless of whether or not the hopper 61 is calling for additional cotton stock at the particular time that the knock-01f lever is moved to in- 1 1 operative position, the corresponding sliding door will occupy closed position.

As heretoforestated, it has been assumed that the doors 123 associated with picker machines A, D occupy closed position. Now, when the doors 123 associated with the othertwo picker machines B, C also occupy closed position, all of the relays 159 (FIGURE 3) would then be energized and all the switches 166 would occupy closed position, thus energizing coil 165 of timer 170. It follows that the cycling of the blender conveyor 22 would then be stopped due to movement of switch 2 to closed position with consequent energization of coil 27 and the opening of switch 26 of relay 25.

Upon any one or more of the hoppers 61 calling for additional cotton stock, due to the corresponding feeler plate 85 moving forwardly sufi'iciently to break the circuit between the corresponding wires 104, 105, the corresponding switch 166 would open and the timing function of the timer would become effective to continue interruption of the cycling of blender conveyor 22 for the recession period determined by screw r. During this recession period of the timer 170, it is particularly important to note that the doors 123 associated with all the picker machines A-D continue to eifect the transfer of fibers from the rake distributor 46 in accordance with the requirements of the individual hoppers 61. This insures that the cotton stock or other fibers are maintained at a constant level in each of the picker feed hoppers 61 during the run-out period in which the delay mechanism of the timer 170 is effective, and also insures that fibers in transit in the pneumatic conveyor 34, the condenser 35 and the distributor 46 are prevented from over-accumulating in the distributor 46 during the aforementioned run-out period. Thus, very little,,if any, of the fibers are carried over the top run of the rake conveyor 45, to prevent the formation of wads, balls and knots in the fibers. In the meantime, the rate of recession of the timer 170 is determined empirically, or by suitable measuring instruments, so that the rate of feed of the fibers to the pneumatic conveyor 34 by the blender conveyor 22 is substantially the same as or only slightly above the rate at which the fibers are required by all of the hoppers 61 .of the picker machines A-D in the series.

Thus, the efficiency in the transfer of fibers from the distributor 46 to the series of hoppers 61 is such that a substantial period elapses from the time that all the doors 123 become closed to the next time that all of the doors 123 become closed in each instance. Further, all the doors 123 remain closed, in those instances in which all of them occupy a closed position, for a relatively short period. In fact, the individual doors 123 each remain closed for relatively short periods as compared to the periods during which they are open. a

In an early installation, in which we utilized a timing device with the prior art types of swinging'or pivoted doors, the inefliciency of this prior apparatus, due to the balling up of the fibers and the inability of the fibers to exit smoothly from the distributor, required that the recession periods of the timer be several times longer than the recession periods in the present instance and also prevented the feeding of stock from the distributor to the feed hoppers during the recession period, thus greatly increasing the number of intervals in which the run-out and run-in of the fibers in transit had to occur over a given period, such as during each work day. For example, the earlier opener feed system could only feed fibers to the pneumatic conveyor system between the opening and picker rooms at an efi'icicncy in the range of 60% to 70% while an actual installation of the present system has resulted in an efliiciency of 90% to 95% in the feeding of fibers into thecleaning machines by the blender conveyor 22 in the opening room 11.

Whereas, prior to the present invention, one installation required that the hand-wheels 65a (FIGURE 2) of a series of picker machines would have to be nearly com tinuously adjusted throughout the operation of such machines so as to maintain the action of the evener sections 65 in correct relationship to the non-uniform feeding of fibers to the picker machines by the corresponding hoppers, the present system has resulted in such uniform feeding of the fibers to the picker machines that practically no adjustment of the evener sections were required other than the initial adjustmentsv required in setting up the picker machines.

It is thus seen that We have provided an improved apparatus for distributing cotton and/or other fibers to a series of picker machines from an opening room, which apparatus is embodied in improved door means for effecting the transfer of fibers from the distributor to each of the picker machines without damaging or, balling up the fibers, and wherein novel means are provided for controlling the operation of such door means to efiicient- 1y maintain the fibers at a substantially uniform or con stant level in all the picker feed hoppers regardless of whether one or more of the picker machines may be stopped for any reason whatsoever, and wherein the doors continue to operate in accordance with the requirements of the individual picker feed hoppers during a recession period in which the delivery of fibers to the pneumatic conveyor system is stopped and whereby the flow of fibers through the pneumatic system is much more eflicient over a substantial period than has heretofore been attainable with prior systems.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, althrough specific terms are employed, they are used ina generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a fiber distributing apparatus for a series of fiber processing machines including a distributor conveyor common to said series of machines, a pneumatic conveyor for directing fibers to said distributor conveyor, and feeding means supplying fibers to said pneumatic conveyor; the combination of (a) means normally establishing communication between each machine and said distributor conveyor and permitting discharge of fibers from said conveyor to said machines,

(b) means operatively associated with each machine for interrupting communication between each machine and said distributor conveyor and thereby interrupting the discharge of fibers from said distributor conveyor whenever the corresponding machine is provided with a given amount of fibers, and

(0) means for throwing said feeding means out of operation each time communication between the conveyor and all of said machines in the series is interrupted and for throwing said feeding means into operation at the termination of a predetermined interval of time following the subsequent re-establishment of communication bteween said distributor conveyor and at least one of the machines in said series to thereby dispose of at least some of the fibers in transit in said pneumatic conveyor during the time in which said feeding means is out of operation.

2. In a fiber distributing apparatus for a series of fiber processing machines including a distributor conveyor common to said series of machines, a second conveyor for directing fibers to said distributor conveyor, mechanism for supplying fibers to said second conveyor, and driving means for said mechanism; the combination of (a) door means operatively associated with each machine for controlling the discharge of fibers from said distributor conveyor to each respective machine,

(b) means controlling the opening and closing of said door means in accordance with the requirements of the individual machines, and

(c) means responsive to each simultaneous closing of 13. all of said door means for throwing said driving means out of operation and for subsequently throwing said driving means into operation at the termination of a predetermined interval following the su sequent opening of at least one of said door means.

3. A fiber distributing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said machines each includes a feed hopper; said means controlling the opening and closing of said door means comprising (d) fluid pressure operated means for opening and closing each of said door means,

(e) a. feeler element adapted to press against and thus detect the amount of fibers in each hopper, and

(f) means responsive to movement of said feeler element in one direction for directing fluid pressure through said pressure operated means in one direction and being responsive to movement of said feeler element in the opposite direction for directing fluid pressure through said fluid pressure operated means in the opposite direction.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said distributor conveyor is a substantially horizontal and endless rake conveyor, a housing enclosing at least the lower run of said rake conveyor and including a substantially fiat bottom wall having an opening therethrough corresponding to each processing machine in said series, each of said door means comprising (d) a flat plate guided for horizontal movement closely adjacent the lower surface of said bottom wall and over a correspondin opening, and

(e) said means controlling said door means including means limiting the range of movement of said plate so that when the plate is closed one of its ends is spaced from the adjacent portion of said bottom wall defining the edge of the corresponding opening to thereby prevent any fibers from being clamp-ed between each plate and the edge of the corresponding opening when the plate is moved from open to closed position. I

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said responsive means comprises a normally inactive time-delay means, a normally inactive switch operatively associated with said time-delay means, means for activating said switch whenever all of said door means are closed, means responsive to activating said switch for throwing said driving means out of operation, and the subsequent opening of at least one of said door means serving to activate said time-delay means and to cause said switch to remain active ,for a predetermined period thereafter whereby the driving means remains out of operation while all the door means are closed and during said predetermined period following the opening of at least one of said door means.

6. In a cotton distributing apparatus for a series of cotton processing machines, said apparatus including mechanism for supplying cotton to the machines, a conveyor means for delivering cotton from said mechanism, gate means associated with each machine for controlling the discharge of cotton from said conveyor means to each respective machine, and means responsive to variation in the le el of the cotton in each machine for opening and closing each of said gate means to discharge cotton from the conveyor means to the machines in accordance With their requirements; the combination therewith of (a) time-delay means under control of the gate means for stopping said mechanism substantially as soon as the gate means associated with all of said machines are substantially closed and for maintaining said mechanism stopped for a predetermined interval while the conveyor means continues to deliver any cotton in transit,

(b) said responsive means being operable independently of said time-delay means to continue to open and close each of said gate means in accordance 14- with the requirements of the respective machines during said predetermined interval, and

(c) said delay means being operable to start said mechanism into operation upon termination of said interval.

7. In a fiber distributing apparatus for a series of picker machines including a distributor conveyor common to said series of machines, a pneumatic conveyor for directing fibers to said distributor conveyor, mechanism for supplying fibers to said pneumatic conveyor, and driving means for said mechanism; the combination of (a) door means operatively associated with each picker machine for controlling the discharge of fibers from said distributor conveyor,

(b) means controlling the opening and closing of said door means in accordance with the requirements of the individual machines, and

(c) means for throwing said driving means out of operation upon all of said door means occupying stantially closed position at the same time and for throwing said driving means into operation at the termination of a predetermined interval extending beyond the instant at which at least one of said door means is subsequently opened.

87 Apparatus according to claim 7, in which each picker machine includes a knock-off device for stopping operation thereof, and means operable independently of said controlling means of sub-paragraph (b) for closing the respective door means, if then open, upon operation of said knock-0K device.

9. Apparatus for controlling the distribution of fibers from supply means through opening machinery, through a pneumatic tube conveyor and to the feed hoppers of a series of picker machines wherein means are provided for driving said supply means and a rake distributor overlies said hoppers and receives fibers from said pneumatic conveyor, said distributor including a driven endless and substantially horizontal rake conveyor, and a housing enclosing at least the lower portion of said rake conveyor; said apparatus comprising (a) a separate sliding door means for each of said picker machines and mounted on said housing,

(2;) said housing having an opening therein corresponding to each door means,

(c) lluid pressure operated means for moving each of said door means in first and second directions for respectively opening and at least nearly closing each of said door means,

(d) electrically operable means responsive to the amount of fibers in each respective feed hopper for controlling the flow of fluid pressure from a source to said fluid pressure operated means to open and substantially close said door means in accordance with the requirements of each respective hopper,

(e) means for stopping the driving means for said supply means substantially as soon as all the door means associated with said series of machines occupy substantially closed position, and

(f) said stopping means being operable to start said driving means into operation at a predetermined instant following the opening of at least one of said door means subsequent to all of the door means having occupied substantially closed position.

10. A structure according to claim 9, wherein said housing includes a flat bottom, each of said openings being formed in said bottom and in substantially rectangular shape, each door means being substantially flat and substantially rectangular in shape, and each door means being slidable against the lower surface of said bottom. V

11. Apparatus for controlling the distribution of fibers from supply means through a pneumatic tube conveyor and to the feed hoppers of a series of picker machines wherein means are provided for driving said supply means 15 and a rake distributor overlies said hoppers and receives fibers from said pneumatic conveyor, said distributor including a driven endless and substantially horizontal rake conveyor, and a housing enclosing at least a lower portion of said rake conveyor; said apparatus comprismg r 1 (a) a separate substantially flat door for each of said picker machines'and mounted for movement to and fro parallel to its flat plane on said housing,

- V '(d) said housing having an opening therein corresponding to each door,

(') fluid pressure operated means for moving each or said doors to and fro for respectively opening and substantially closing each of said doors,

(d) electrically operable means responsive to the amount of fibers in each respective hopper for directing fluid presure from a source to said fluid pressure operated means to open and close said doors in accordance, with the fiber requirements of each re- 7 spective hopper,

(2) means for stopping the driving means for said supply means substantially as soon as all the doors associated with said series of machines occupy substantially closed position, and

(f) said stopping means being operable to start said driving means into operation at a predetermined instant following the closing of'all the doors but subsequent to the re-opening of at least one of said doors. V

12. A structure according to claim 11 in which said electrically operable means comprises a feeler element adapted to press against and thus detect the amount of fibers in each hopper, an electrically operable valve means interposed in a fluid pressure to said fluid pressure operated means, switch means interposed in an electrical circuit to said valve means and being responsive to movement of said feeler element in one direction for operating said valve means to direct fluid pressure to said fluid pressure operated means in one and being responsive to movement of said feeler element in the opposite direction for operating said valve means to direct fluid pressure to said fluid pressure operated means in the other direction.

13. A structure according to claim 12, in which each picker machine has starting and stopping means, each fluid pressure operated means being operable to move its respective door toward closed position when subjected to fluid pressure in said one direction, and means responsive to operation of the last-mentioned stopping means to direct fluid pressure in said one direction only regardless of the position occupied by the respective feeler element whereby each door occupies substantially closed position .to prevent fibers from flowing into the hoppers of any stopped picker machines.

, 14. A structure according to claim 12, in which said means for stopping the driving means comprises a second normally closed switch interposed in an electrical circuit to said driving means, an electrically operated time-delay mechanism, a series of normally open third switches interposed in an electrical circuit to said time-delay mechanism, there being one of said switches tor each picker machine, means responsive to the closing of each of said doors for closing the respective third switches whereby said time-delay mechanism is energized upon all of said doors being closed, means responsive to energization of said time-delay mechanism for opening said second switch, and means in said mechanism responsive to the opening of any one of said doors for effecting the closing of said second, switch [at a predetermined interval there-.

atter.

15. Apparatus for controlling the distribution of fibers fromman electrically operated supply means through a pneumatic tube conveyorland to the feed hoppers of a series of picker machines wherein a rake distributor overlies said hoppers and receives fibers from said pneumatic l. 5 conveyor, said distributor including a driven endless and substantially horizontal rake conveyor, and a housing enclosing at least the lower portion of said rake conveyor; said apparatus comprising :(a) a separate door means :for each of said picker machines and mounted on said housing,

(b) said housing having an opening therein corresponding to each door means,

(0) means 'for moving each of said door means in first and second directions tor respectively opening and substantially closing each of said door means,

(d) electrically operable means responsive to the amount of fibers in each respective hopper for controlling said moving means so as to open and close each door means in accordance with the requirements of each respective hopper,

(e) an electrically operable time-delay means for stopping the electrical operation of said supply means substantially assoon as all the door means associated with said series of machines occupy substantially closed position, and

(f) said time-delay means being operable to restart the electrical operation of said supply means at a predetermined instant following the opening of at least one of said door means.

16. A structure according to claim 15 in which said means for stopping and restarting the electrical operation of said supply means comprises a first switch interposed in an electrical circuit to said supply means, said timedelay means being electrically operable, a series of nor-' mally open second switches interposed in series in an electrical circuit to said time-delay means, there being one of said second switches for each picker machine, means responsive to the substantial closing of each of said door means for closing the respective second switch whereby said time-delay means is energized upon all of said door means being substantially closed, means responsive to en-' ergization of said time-delay means for opening said first switch, and means responsive to the opening of any one of said doors, and breaking the circuit to said'delay means,

for eflecting the closing of said first switch at a predetermined interval thereafter.

17. In a fiber distributing apparatus for a series of fiber processing machines including :a distributor conveyor common to said series of machines, a second conveyor for directing fibers to said distributor conveyor, mechanism for supplying fibers to said second conveyor, and driving means :for said mechanism; the combination of Ka) door means operatively associated with each machine for controlling the discharge of fibers trom said distributor conveyor,

(b) means controlling the opening and closing of said door means in accordance with the requirements of the individual machines, and

(0) means for throwing said driving means out of I operation upon all of said door means occupying sub stantially closed position at the same time and for [throwing said driving means into operation at the termination of a predetermined interval extending beyond the instant at which at least one of said door means is subsequently opened.

18. A method of controlling the disttibntionof textile tor and each feed hopper whenever the individual hoppers are provided with a predetermined amount of fibers,

(e) interrupting the feeding of fibers at the source upon interrupting communication between all the hoppers in said series and said distributor While continuing transferring fibers from the conveyor to the distributor,

(1) then resuming communication between the distributor and at least one of the feed hoppers while resuming the transfer of fibers from the distributor to said one of the feed hoppers and while maintaining interruption of the fibers at the source, and

(g) at a predetermined interval thereafter, resuming the feeding of fibers from said supply source to said pneumatic conveyor.

19. A method of controlling the distribution of textile fibers from a supply source to the feed hoppers of a series of fiber processing machines which includes (a) feeding fibers from said source,

( b) conveying fibers fed from said source to a distributor common to all of said feed hoppers,

(c) maintaining communication between each feed hopper and said distributor while transferring fibers from the distributor to each feed hopper,

(d) interrupting communication between the distributor and each feed hopper Whenever the individual hoppers are provided with a predetermined amount of fibers,

(e) interrupting the feeding of fibers at the source upon interrupting communication between all the hoppers in said series and said distributor and while continuing the conveying of any fibers in transit to said distributor,

(1) then resuming communication. between the distributor and at least one of the feed hoppers While resumting the transfer of fibers from the distributor to said one of the feed hoppers and While maintaining interruption of the fibers at the source, and

(g) at a predetermined interval thereafter, resuming the feeding on": fibers from said supply source.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 392,912 Sullivan July 7, 1908 1,875,356 Shaw Sept. 6, 1932 2,688,517 Riordan Sept. 7, 1954 

1. IN A FIBER DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS FOR A SERIES OF FIBER PROCESSING MACHINES INCLUDING A DISTRIBUTOR CONVEYOR COMMON TO SAID SERIES OF MACHINES, A PNEUMATIC CONVEYOR FOR DIRECTING FIBERS TO SAID DISTRIBUTOR CONVEYOR, AND FEEDING MEANS SUPPLYING FIBERS TO SAID PNEUMATIC CONVEYOR; THE COMBINATION OF (A) MEANS NORMALLY ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN EACH MACHINE AND SAID DISTRIBUTOR CONVEYOR AND PERMITTING DISCHARGE OF FIBERS FROM SAID CONVEYOR TO SAID MACHINES, (B) MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH EACH MACHINE FOR INTERRUPTING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN EACH MACHINE AND SAID DISTRIBUTOR CONVEYOR AND THEREBY INTERRUPTING THE DISCHARGE OF FIBERS FROM SAID DISTRIBUTOR CONVEYOR WHENEVER THE CORRESPONDING MACHINE IS PROVIDED WITH A GIVEN AMOUNT OF FIBERS, AND (C) MEANS FOR THROWING SAID FEEDING MEANS OUT OF OPERATION EACH TIME COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CONVEYOR AND ALL OF SAID MACHINES IN THE SERIES IS INTERRUPTED AND FOR THROWING SAID FEEDING MEANS INTO OPERATION AT THE TERMINATION OF A PREDETERMINED INTERVAL OF TIME FOLLOWING THE SUBSEQUENT RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID DISTRIBUTOR CONVEYOR AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE MACHINES IN SAID SERIES TO THEREBY DISPOSE OF AT LEAST SOME OF THE FIBERS IN TRANSIT IN SAID PNEUMATIC CONVEYOR DURING THE TIME IN WHICH SAID FEEDING MEANS IS OUT OF OPERATION. 